Collapsible combination sawhorse and tool carrier



Jan. 9, 1962 D. E. JOHNSON COLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION SAWHORSE AND TOOL CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

INVEN TOR. 5 ay/vs 0A4 DON Jan- 9, 96 D. E. JOHNSON 3,015,104

COLLAPSIBLE COMBINATION SAWHORSE AND TOOL CARRIER Filed Dec. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JZ/S? 9 Z? BY United States Patent 3,016,104 COLLAPSIBLE (ZOMBINATIUN SAWHORSE AND TOL CARRIER Don E. Johnson, 2323 4th St. NW., Albuquerque, N. Mex. Filed Dec. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 861,654 2 Claims. (Cl. 182-129) This invention relates to novel collapsible combination sawhorse and tool carrier.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of the kind indicated which, when in open position, serves as a sawhorse and work bench, and as a carrier and container for tools associated with the use of the device, the device being capable of being collapsed into a relatively small package for easy and space saving transportation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and rugged device of the character indicated above, wherein the tool carrier is supported on and between the leg assemblies of the device, on a level below the bolster of the device, in the open position of the device, and is held in place by means provided on the leg assemblies, so that the carrier serves as a brace between the leg assemblies, the tool carrier being composed of foldable sections, the folding of which enables removing the carrier from the leg assemblies.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated above wherein the horse component of the device has a bolster which is foldable between its ends, and the leg assemblies are hinged to the ends of the bolster to be folded along the sections of the bolster, with the bolster sections folded and nested in the leg assemblies, toggle lever assemblies being provided to hold the bolster sections and the leg assemblies in their unfolded open operative positions. I

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device of the invention in open position;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the device showing the tool carrier folded, incidental to installing or removing the tool carrier;

FIGURE 4 is a side'clevation of the device showing one leg assembly folded into nesting relation to a bolster section, and the other leg assembly partially folded; and

FIGURE 5 is a group side elevation showing the sawhorse component and the tool carrier component in collapsed positions.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated combination device comprises a sawhorse component, generally designated 10, which has a longitudinally elongated, normally horizontally disposed bolster 12, preferably of flat rectangular cross section, which is composed of two similar end-abutting bolster sections 14, having free outer ends 16. In the region of the inner ends 18 of the bolster sections are relatively short, longitudinally extending enlargements 20, located on the undersides of the sections 14. The enlargements 20 having undersurfaces 22 which are substantially parallel to the lengths of the sections and inner ends 24 which are flush with the inner ends 18 of the sections. Hingedly connecting the sections 14 together to fold downwardly toward each other into side-by-side spaced parallel relationship, as indicated in FIGURE 5, are hinge leaves 26 2 which are suitably secured to and extend along the undersurfaces 22 of the enlargements 20, and have downwardly displaced interdigitated hinge barrels 28 on their inner ends, at the point of abutment of the inner ends of the sections 14, through which a hinge pin 30 extends.

Similar leg assemblies 32 are pivoted on the bolster sections 14 near the outer ends 16 thereof. The leg assemblies 32 comprise pairs of downwardly divergent, preferably vertically elongated flat legs 34 having rounded upper ends 36 and lower ends 38 which are angled, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, to make flush engagements with a supporting surface S, such as a floor, with the leg assemblies 32 in downwardly divergent relationship to each other, in the unfolded and set-up condition of the sawhorse component 10.

The divergent legs 34 are spaced and connected by upper cross plates 48 which are preferably suitably fixed in recesses 42 formed in the outer edges 44 of the legs 34, near the upper ends 36 thereof. The plates have upper edges 46 which are at locations below the upper ends 36 of the legs 34, such that these upper edges have supporting and stop engagements with the undersurfaces 48 of the bolster sections, and with the outer sides of bevelled cross members 50 which extend across and are secured to the undersurfaces 48, at points near to and spaced from the outer ends 16 of the bolster sections,

, the cross members 50 having axles 52 extending thereoperative relationships by means of ladder-type foldable looking toggle levers 54, which are pivoted at opposite ends thereof to the undersurfaces of the bolster sections 14, at points inwardly ,of the cross members 50, as indicated at 5.6, and to lower parts of the inward sides of the upper plates 40, as indicated at .58. I

Spaced below the upper cross plates 40, lower and preferably narrower lower crossplates 60 extend between the legs 34 and are secured in recesses 62 in the outer edges of the legs. Rungs 64 extend between and are fixed to the legs 34 at locations which are spaced above and near to the lower edges 66 of and spaced longitudinaily inwardly from the lower cross plates 60. The rungs 64, in conjunction with the lower cross plates 60 serve as supports for a tool carrier component of the device, Whichis generally designated 68.

-The tool carrier component 68 comprises two similar carrier sections .70, composed of elongated bottom plates 72 having outer ends 74 and innerends 76,'the inner ends 76 being in abutting relationship in the unfolded operative position of the component 68, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The length of the carrier component, in its operative open position, is slightly less than the distance between the lower press plates 60 of the leg assemblies 32 and great enough that the section bottom plates 72 can rest upon the rungs 64, with their outer ends 74 well beyond the rungs and located close to the lower cross plates. 60, whereby inwardly collapsing of the leg assemblies 32, in the event of failure of locking toggle levers 54, is precluded.

The carrier section bottom plates 72 are hinged to gether by means of hinge leaves 78 which are secured along the undersides 0f the plates 72. and have interdigitated and downwardly extending hinge barrels 80 on their inner ends, through which a hinge pin 82 exlatented Jan. 9, 19 62 FIGURE 3, and to be folded into parallel side-by-side storage relationship, as shown in FIGURE 5. The bottom plates 72 have upstanding side walls 84 fixed to and extending along their opposite side edges, so as to constitute the carrier sections as tool securing troughs. As shown in FIGURE 1, the side walls 84 have downwardly bevelled ends 86 which are located in the vertical planes of the legs 34 of the leg assemblies 32, the ends 86 being positioned close to the inner edges 88 of the legs 34, so that endwise shifting of the carrier component 68, relative to the sawhorse component 10, sufficient to permit the outer ends of the carrier section bottom walls to fall off the rungs 64, is precluded The combination device, when in unfolded and set-up condition, can be conveniently and easily carried from one place to another, by grasping a midportion of the bolster 12, and lifting the device off its supporting surface S, without danger of collapsing the device or spilling tools out of the carrier component 68, the ends of whose troughs are closed by the lower cross plates 60 of the leg assemblies 32.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A collapsible combination sawhorse and tool carrier comprising a bolster composed of two sections hinged together at their inward ends to fold only upwardly relative to each other from operative positions in which the inward ends of the sections are in abutting relationship, leg assemblies positioned at the outward ends of the bolster sections, each leg assembly comprising a pair of lateral spaced legs having upper ends engaged with the outer sides of the bolster sections and pivoted to the bolster sections at locations spaced inwardly from the outward ends of the bolster sections, said leg assemblies being foldable to put their legs along related sides of the bolster when in inoperative position, upper plates extending between and fixed to upper portions of the legs, said upper plates having upper edges adapted to engage the undersides of the bolster sections at locations outwardly from the pivotal axes of the legs, only in the vertical spread operative positions of the leg assemblies, and toggle levers extending diagonally between and pivoted at their ends to the upper plates of the leg assemblies and to the undersides of the bolster sections, at points spaced inwardly from the leg assemblies, said leg assemblies having rungs extending between their legs and spaced downwardly from said upper plates, and a tool carrier disposed beneath the bolster and comprising a pair of upwardly opening channel sections hinged together at their inward ends to fold only downwardly relative to each other, said channel sections having sidewalls having inward ends which are in abutting relationship in the unfolded condition of the channel sections, said channel sections having bottom walls having outward ends resting upon said rungs.

2. A collapsible combination sawhorse and tool carrier comprising a bolster composed of two sections hinged together at their inward ends to fold only upwardly relative to each other from operative positions in which the inward ends of the sections are in abutting relationship, leg assemblies positioned at the outward ends of the bolster sections, each leg assembly comprising a pair of lateral spaced legs having upper ends engaged with the outer sides of the bolster sections and pivoted to the bolster sections at locations spaced inwardly from the outward ends of the bolster sections, said leg assemblies being foldable to put their legs along related sides of the bolster when in inoperative position, upper plates extending between and fixed to upper portions of the legs, said upper plates having upper edges adapted to engage the underside of the bolster sections at locations outwardly from the pivotal axes of the legs, only in the vertical spread operative positions of the leg assemblies, and toggle levers extending diagonally between and pivoted at their ends to the upper plates of the leg assemblies and to the undersides of the bolster sections, at points spaced inwardly from the leg assemblies, said leg assemblies having rungs extending between their legs and spaced downwardly from said upper plates, and a tool carrier disposed beneath the bolster and comprising a pair of upwardly opening channel sections hinged together at their inward ends to fold only downwardly relative to each other, said channel sections having sidewalls having inward ends which are in abutting relationship in the unfolded condition of the channel sections, said channel sections having bottom walls having outward ends resting upon said rungs, said leg assemblies having lower plates spaced below said upper plates and extending between and fixed to their legs and constituting closures for the outward ends of the channel sections in the unfolded condition of the tool carrier.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,100 Kaganowsky Feb. 1, 1898 1,103,699 South July 14, 1914 1,191,687 Gillett July 18, 1916 1,583,652 Brooks May 4, 1926 1,636,342 Whelan July 19, 1927 2,324,196 Crozier July 13, 1943 2,573,740 Spikings Nov. 6, 1951 

